How to hide contacts on SIM-Xiaomi map: a complete guide with hidden features MIUI

Contacts to SIM-The card is not just a phone book, it's a potential source of identity leakage. If your Xiaomi smartphone falls into the wrong hands, even without unlocking the screen, an attacker can extract the data. SIM-This is a problem that is particularly relevant for business phone owners, where contacts can be customers, partners or confidential connections.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to hide contacts. SIM-map - from the basic settings MIUI to little-known functions that are not documented in the official instructions:

• 🔒 Hide contacts from display in the phone book without removing them from the phone SIM-map;
• 📱 Block access to SIM-contact PIN-code;
• 🔄 Move contacts to a secure cloud or local storage;
• 🛡️ Use third-party applications for encryption;
• 🔧 Turn off automatic synchronization SIM-contact MIUI.

Important: The methods work on all current Xiaomi models, including Redmi Note 12/13, Poco F5/X5, Mi 11/12/13 and other devices running MIUI 13/14 or HyperOS. If you have an older firmware version (for example, MIUI 12 and below), some menu items may differ - we will warn you about this separately.

1. Why are the contacts on SIM-It's more dangerous than a phone.

Many users mistakenly believe that the contact SIM-The card is protected in the same way as the ones stored in the memory of the smartphone:

• 📌 No link to the account. SIM Not synced with Mi Account and not protected by two-factor authentication;
• 🔓 Access without unlocking. SIM-map and insert it into another phone to see all the numbers;
• 📡 Vulnerability in theft: An attacker can copy contacts to his machine in seconds;
• 🔄 No backups, no backups, no loss. SIM-It will be impossible to restore the numbers (unlike cloud copies).

Moreover, some viruses and spyware are specifically scanned. SIM-Contact cards are available to send to remote servers, such as the Android.Spy.XXX Trojan (discovered in 2023) that uses this method to collect data.

⚠️ Note: If you use two of these SIM-Xiaomi cards, each of which is separately displayed, which means that you can only hide the numbers on one of them. SIM It will not work – you need to adjust the protection for each card individually.

Method 1: Hiding contacts via MIUI settings (without deleting)

The easiest method is to turn off the display SIM-It doesn't remove the numbers from the card, it makes them invisible in the interface. MIUI. Instructions:

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette).
2. Tap on three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Contact Management section → Display contacts.
4. Uncheck the box in front of SIM 1 (or SIM 2 if you have two cards).

Afterwards, contact with SIM-The cards will disappear from the list, but they will remain on the map itself:

• 🔍 Manually choose SIM-Contacts in the Phone Book Filter;
• 📱 Insert SIM-card;
• 🔄 Reset the settings MIUI factory-to-factory.

Sync with Mi Account disabled|Contacts are not displayed in the general list|SIM-card not blocked PIN-code|Backup copy of contacts created-->

This method is suitable if you need to temporarily hide the numbers (for example, when transferring the phone to a colleague or a service center). SIM-map.

Method 2: Locking down SIM-map PIN-code

If you want to completely ban access to your contacts SIM-without your knowledge, turn on the map. PIN-It doesn't hide the numbers, but it makes them inaccessible without entering the code.

How to set up:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Choose the right one. SIM-map, SIM 1).
3. Activate the switch Lock PIN-code.
4. Enter a standard PIN (usually 0000 or 1234 if you haven’t changed it) and set a new one.

⚠️ Attention: If you forget PIN-code, you can't restore it, only through PUK (which is issued by the operator when buying SIM-Keep the cards. PUK in a secure location (e.g., an encrypted note in Mi Notes).

This method is reliable, but has a drawback: if you often reboot your phone (for example, for testing firmware), enter PIN-It can be annoying, and in this case, consider the following method.

Method 3: Transfer of contacts with SIM-card to secure vault

The best way to remove all contacts from SIM-And you can move it to a secure storage facility, like a Mi Account cloud, a local phone memory, or an encrypted application, and you can eliminate any risk of leakage.

How to transfer contacts:

1. Open Contacts → Settings → Import / Export.
2. Select Export with SIM-maps and specify where to save the file (for example, in internal memory).
3. The file will be saved in.vcf format (business card). Open it and import contacts into the file: 📁 Local memory (they will only be available after unlocking the phone); ☁️ Mi Cloud (synchronized with Xiaomi account and password protected); 🔐 Third-party application (such as Truecaller or Contacts)+ coded).

remove contacts with SIM-map

Contact management

Delete everything with SIM

Advantages of this method:

• 🔒 Contacts are protected by Mi Account password or encryption;
• 🔄 Easy to recover when you lose your phone;
• 📱 No risk of leakage when extracted SIM-map.

The downside is that if you change phones often or use multiple devices, syncing through the cloud can take time. SIM-card only the most necessary numbers (for example, emergency contacts), and the rest to transfer to a secure storage.

5. Method 4: Using third-party encryption applications

If you need to encrypt your contacts, you need to use specialized applications that allow you to:

• 🔐 Create password profiles with contacts;
• 👤 Hide individual numbers from the general list;
• 📎 Attach secret notes to contacts (for example, bank card data).

The best apps for Xiaomi:

How to set up hidden contacts in Truecaller:

1. Install the app from Google Play and sign up.
2. Go to Settings → Contacts → Hidden Contacts.
3. Add numbers to hide or import them from SIM-map.
4. Set a password to access hidden contacts.

⚠️ Warning: When using third-party apps, turn off autosynchronization of contacts in settings MIUI (Settings → Synchronization → Otherwise, hidden numbers may be duplicated in a standard phone book.

Method 5: Disabling Automatic Synchronization SIM-contact

By default. MIUI Automatically copy the contacts with SIM-It's convenient, but it's not safe, even if you've hidden the numbers on the phone. SIM, They can stay in the cache of the system to avoid that:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Contacts app and open its settings.
3. Select Permits and disable access to SIM-contact.
4. Back to Settings → Sync and disable Contacts for Mi Account and Google.

After these actions, contacts from the SIM-card will cease to be automatically copied to the phone’s memory, but will remain available only when manually browsing through the SIM-contact menu.

If you need to clear the contact cache completely:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Select Deep Clean and select Contacts.
3. Confirm the cleanup. This will delete all temporary files, including duplicates. SIM-contact.

💡

If you use two of them SIM-Repeat the procedure for disabling the synchronization for each of them separately. SIM They can automatically copy the second.

7. Additional security measures for the SIM-contact

Beyond the basic ways, consider these additional measures for maximum protection:

• 📵 Turn off the display of numbers in the call log. To do this, go to Settings. → Call magazine → Hide the numbers and select SIM-contact.
• 🔄 Use the virtual. SIM (eSIM), if your Xiaomi supports it. Virtual SIM harder to copy physically.
• 📡 Set up suspicious activity notifications via the operator's app (such as My MTS or My Beeline). SMS copying SIM-map.
• 🔐 Encrypt backups. If you export contacts to a.vcf file, archive it with a password (e.g., through a password). 7-Zip WinRAR).

If you often pass your phone to colleagues or friends, create a guest profile in MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → System and Device → Additional → Multiple users.
2. Create a Guest and set limits (e.g., no contact viewing).
3. When transferring the phone, switch to the guest profile.

💡

Even if you have hidden your contacts in SIM-map, they can remain in the cache of messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram). To completely delete them, clear the data of these applications in the settings MIUI.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hiding contacts on Xiaomi